"Remembering Matthew Shepard: A Call to Action to Erase Hate," is put on in collaboration with the Triangle Foundation and the OU LGBTA Employee Resource Group. The event will be held Monday, Oct. 6, in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms at 6 p.m. Guest speakers include Michigan Representative Paul Condino, who recently introduced the Michigan Anti-Bias Crime Statute, a measure intended to eliminate violence against gays and other minorities; Melissa L. Pope, director of victims services for the Triangle Foundation; and Dan Levy, chief legal officer of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
The week will continue with screenings of “For the Bible Tells Me So,” an award-winning documentary exploring contemporary gay-related issues and providing fresh perspectives addressing the historical wedge between Christianity and homosexuality. The film also chronicles the families of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, who have dealt with gay-related issues in the public eye. The film will be shown Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the Oakland Center Oakland Room from 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the Oakland Center Oakland Room from 3-5 p.m.
In addition, the GSC will welcome local TV and radio personality Charles Pugh to discuss his own experiences coming out as an African American gay man. The event will be held Friday, Oct. 10, in Gold Room C of the Oakland Center. Pugh will speak from noon to 1 p.m., with a meet-and-greet from 1-2 p.m.
National Coming Out Day is Saturday, Oct. 11. For more information the National Coming Out Week, contact the GSC at (248) 370-4333 or visit the GSC Web site.